WOOTTON'S WILLING WIFE.

NZ Truth, Issue 533, 4 September 1915, Page 5

WOOTTON'S WILLING WIFE.

Bolts Off With Barnesley. Charlca Edward Wootton (Mr. Casnldy) a. po'lco constable, recently In charjro at WoolHton, but now at Green island, near Dunodin, applied lor a dls-

solution of his marriage with Mary S. Wootton, alleging misconduct. Petitioner said that he married Mary m July, 1898, and lived happily with her until 1913. He knew Arthur Barnesley, the co-re, whom he met m Cathedral-square m August, 1913. Barnesley was looking unwell and told Wootton that his YOUNG LADY HAD JILTED HIM. and Wootton, with the idea of cheering him up, invited him out to his place at Woolston. After that.Barnesl^p was a fairly frequent visitor. About October, Wootton was taken ill with appendicitis / and was m the Christchurch hospital for some considerable time, during which he was often visited by Barnesley. Wootton heard that his wife and Barnesley. had been to the New Zealand Cup meeting together, but he didn't distrust his wife. On November 16 or 17, he left the hospital and went home to Woolston, m a very weak condition. Barnesley was still visiting the house, and one night, soon after Wootton's "return, Mrs. Wootton went to the door with Baxnesley, to say "good night" when he was going home. On his wife's return, Wootton remarked that the "good night" process had taken along time, and his wife replied, "Well, what if it has?" Wootton then said, "I believe I heard the man kiss you!" Mrs. Woottonreplied, "What about It, if he did?" Wootton was very angry; and next morning as he was sitting near the bedroom window, Barnesley called m about 9 o'clock and said to Wootton: "Why, you're all of a tremble! What's up?" Wootton replied that he wanted a word with Barnesley, about kissing Mrs. Wbbtton the previous night. To which Barnesley replied that he did, kiss her and had done so dozens of times. Wootton grabbed a vase which on the mantelpiece, and threatened to brain Barnealey if he did not clear out of the house. Ho cleared out. On August 29, Wootton was ordered to Auckland, His wife had previously stated that she didn't wish to see Barnesley again, and it was decided that as they were going to Auckland, they would also make a trip , to Rotorua. Everything was all right for the first fortnight m Auckland, but when Wootton suggested the trip to Rotorua, his wife said she could not go. She made an excuse which appealed to her husband, who then decided to go on his lonesome. Mrs. Wootton saw him off on the Sunday night and, when ho was returning the following Friday, ho wired her to meet him at Frankton Junction on Saturday. But she was not 4 there, although the friends with whom they stayed had a letter from her say?Ing that she was with friendß m Auckland until Monday. Wootton decided* TO PAY A SURPRISE VISIT, but the friends with whom she said she was staying with m Auckland told Wootton thut she had called there and left again, saying that she would be m Frankton Junction on the Saturday. Returning to Frankton Junction, Wootton received a letter from his wife, saying that she had flown and would no longer take Wootton's name. She was eventually traced to Sydney, but she left there In October, 1914, and returned to Wellington with Barnesley. They were both served with' copies of the petition m that city. Sergeant David Jackson Identified tho writing In tho letter produced as being that of tho respondent A decree nisi was granted on the understanding that a minor defect m the petition would be rectified.

CLAYTON'S CONTRACT CANCELLED.

Medico and the Maid. Edith Maud Margaret Claytou (Mr. Alpers) based her application for a divorce from Geoffrey Sherwood Clayton, on the allegation that ho had "carried on" to an undue extent with another lady. Tho Clayton contract was stated to have been fixed at Itangiora In 1887, everything going along swimmingly until this side of four years ago when Clayton, who Is a doctor, went away to Karamea for the purpose OF "SWATTING" MEDICINE. . Mrs, Clayton meantime made her abode at Sumner und, m duo course, learned that her hustfand had gone to England. Recently, she heard that ho returned last year, although she had neither seen him nor received any "hoot" from him. Mary Emma Ooombes, proprietress of tho Crown Hotel at Temuka, told the Court what she knew übout March IS, when two people came to stay at her pubbery. They entered their names m thn register as Mr. and Mrs, Cluyton, and, at the request of the "gentleman," occupied a bed-sitting-room. There wore In reality two rooms, connected with a door, leading from this sitting-room to tho bedroom. The two comprised a "sutte," however, known as No. 7 and containing only one bed — a double ono. Soon after "tho Claytons" had taken possession, witness's son-in-law remarked that "Mrs." Clayton looked ill and witness went upstairs to see If she wanted anything. Clayton and the woman wore m tho room and tho formor explained that the lady had been very seasick, and was not at all well. Witness noticed that tho woman was fair, slim and about 35 years of ago. A little- while afterwards, witness was In the hotel garden when Clayton came along and asked If ho might have a flower for hia coat. He commenced to talk of a garden ho had m Christchurch. He described tho garden so well that witness asked him if bo was, by any chance, Dr. Clayton. Ho replied, "Yos, do you know mo?" Tho landlady reckoned she didn't know him, although she had heard of him from her alstcr, whom ho attended during >u>r illness some years previously. The couple had their meals Hprvt'd upstnlra In their room and, after staying ono night, left by tho express tho following afternoon. As far as the proprietress of the hotel knew, tho pair occupied tho same snuggery .on the night of March 18. Mrs, Coombcs's married daughter, who lived and worked at tho Crown Motel, remembered taking meals up to "the Claytons'*" room on March 18. When wltnons wont into tho room, the woman was lying on a couch with bor back to tho door, so that HER PACE WAS HIDDEN, although it was ween that nho vras fair and mle&dar, Wltxuuu wu pociUro

that the pair occupied the same bed* room that night. ; That was enough for his Honor, who handed down a decree.